Crime and Emergency Disaster Outlook
Compared to past years, major crime and emergency events didn’t infiltrate the Ute Pass region as much. However, the crimes that did take place in 2025, appeared quite bizarre.
On the upside, there weren’t any major wildfires. There were a few smaller blazes that ignited, but no structures were lost. There was one fire near Dome Rock early in the season with another brush fire near Divide late in the season.
The summer was rather wet and uneventful. There were, however, several fires that took place at the unsanctioned shooting range at Turkey Tracks north of Woodland Park. That area experienced fire multiple times, but that is nothing new as authorities say the region gets five to six wildfires per year due to reckless shooters.
The following are a few highlights on the local crime front during 2025
Machine Gun Bobby Pardoned
Gieswein made national news coverage in 2021 after he turned himself into the Teller County Jail. In 2023, he was sentenced to four years in prison on charges that included assault to a police officer. He was commonly seen in Teller County, equipped with a machine gun, during a number of earlier protests against COVID restrictions and in supporting the right to bear firearms. He became one of the local symbols of the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol.
Arson Suspect Arrested and Awaiting Trial
On Jan. 16, authorities arrested Lowa “Lacey” Tillitt for purposely starting her house on fire in October 2024. Tillitt’s house fire spread to the surrounding neighborhood burning 160 acres and threatening $300 million worth of homes and property.
Ever since she was arrested, she has been going through the court system with several delays related to her mental competency. The last news that surfaced reported that Tillitt’s trial was still experiencing more delays.
Suspect Alludes Police During Stolen Vehicle Investigation
On July 10, the Woodland Park Police Department were alerted that someone carrying a gun who had hijacked a car at gun point was seen at the city’s Walmart in the stolen vehicle. But then the vehicle fled the parking lot at a high rate of speed and then bailed east on Hwy. 24.
Police attempted to pursue the suspect but then terminated the chase due to safety reasons. The police said that the suspects were identified but there was no information released about whether an arrest was made.
Suspect Flees Cripple Creek Casino with over $76K Cash
A rare incident occurred on Aug. 18 when a man walked into a Cripple Creek casino, jumped over the cashier counter, and escaped with over $76,000 cash. The casino employees identified the man as the same person who attempted to commit the same act weeks prior. However, his first attempted was thwarted by the cashier.
The day after the crime, authorities used video to track the suspect’s car to a home in Colorado Springs. They then arrested 26-year-old Colorado Springs resident Andrew Irvine on charges of theft.
Then a week after the incident, authorities reported that they had received a good chunk of the cash back. The Cripple Creek Police Department stated that the suspect’s lawyer returned $70,550 of the $76,800 that was stolen as well as various items of clothing, which the defendant was wearing during the incidents.
Criminal Sabotages Woodland Park Cell Phone Towers
Probably the crime that angered residents the most this year was when a culprit vandalized the cell phone towers. Many locals were enraged when they couldn’t conduct business or make phone calls on Aug. 28 after the cell towers were sabotaged.
The next day, it was reported that someone broke into a building near the cell phone towers on Gold Hill located on the west side of Woodland Park and turned off some breaker switches. Around 24 hours after the incident, police arrested 30-year-old Christian Buhr on charges of obstruction of telephone device, 1st degree criminal tampering, obstructing governmental operations, and second-degree criminal trespass.
Wire Thieves Busted in Woodland Park
During the early morning hours of Nov. 2, the Woodland Park Police Department received a report that a group of people had broken into the Core Electric Cooperative company’s property. The caller said that it looked like the people were trying to steal wire and other items.
Police quickly arrived at the scene, and they were able to catch the suspects in the act. In the end, police arrested Jamey Hatch and Chanda Conklin from Golden, Mason Eisenhand from Indian Hills and Darian Crider from Westminster for felony and misdemeanor property crimes as well as drug charges.
